Bruce Banner | Hulk | The Avengers | Location: The Forest (Northern area)| Tagged: Hajreel-Ka
Hulk notes how the ground is dry now, and the trees are thick with leaves instead of itchy moss and mold. They are in dry forest now, and it’s dark and cramped and full of glowing mushrooms. Hulk sniffs. Lots of old scents, like deer and birds, and some new scents that Hulk doesn’t know. They smell musty and like territory markers. Hulk also smell something like people, but it’s very faint for Hulk-nose. Hulk-nose not as strong as a good sniffer, like a dog. Bruce worries about these new scents. Hulk on high alert: he
must protect Bruce.
Lizard Man talk again, and Hulk pauses while bending under a thick tree branch. He frowns and slaps the side of his head in shame. Stupid, stupid, mean idiot! Of course Liz—eh, Haj don’t want to be called lizard just like Hulk don’t want to be called monster! Bruce says he couldn’t have known and to stop beating himself up. Hulk sighs and turns around.
“Hulk sorry...Hulk no like being called monster, too. You be...Haaaajjj,” Hulk briefly stretches the word out to make sure he got it right. Yes! Hulk good with this word, “Haj, no more lizard, like Hulk be Hulk and not monster.”
Hulk frowns at the insistence of Bruce. Bruce is nervous about coming out, and Hulk looks at Haj funny. Why does he want Bruce so bad? Is he trying to hurt Bruce? No one can hurt Bruce, and even if Haj try, Hulk will come right out and SMASH! Bruce isn’t nervous about that, though, he knows Hulk always protect Bruce, but coming out is painful and their mind is all scramble after and they have to tell eachother everything that happened. No matter what, their memories go all funny. Plus Bruce will be tired. Bruce always tired after a Hulk-Out.
But the more Hulk walk, the smaller the forest. That’s the one problem of being so big and strong: the world is small and delicate. Puny Bruce will fit in the forest much better, and Haj is weird to want Bruce so bad but he don’t seem dangerous. Bruce still worries, but he also want to meet Haj.
You’re a great protector, Hulk, but I can converse with Hajreel-Ka. You know he won’t try to hurt us...and if he does, well Bruce says and then laughs.
Hulk sit down on a patch of moss, “Okay.” He says seriously, “You meet Bruce now.” Hulk
lets go...——————————————
Bruce comes to sore, shirtless (again), and sitting on a patch of moss. His whole body aches of a Hulk-Out. As usual, he doesn’t remember anything that happened during and most of the time before. Vague snippets of information pass through his brain, and Hulk hammers in the back of his mind to
sit up watch for predators watch for Haj! Bruce groaned and carefully stood, noting that he also lost his shoes. Thank god for Start Industries Hulk-sweats (trademark), though. The purple sweatpants have survived countless Hulk-outs and fights. Bruce doesn’t have to worry about his modesty.
The scientist looked around, jumping when a reptilian man comes into view. What the heck was going on!?
That Haj. Says he make it safe for Bruce, now. Hulk said in their mind. Oh, right. The island. Being...kidnapped...by a kid in their dreams? And said reptilian man was also kidnapped in his dream. Hajreel-Ka, who has some very sharp looking weapons strapped to his back and sides, and who wanted to meet Bruce, probably because the Hulk is a poor conversationalist. Hopefully Hulk didn’t insult him, because those could probably do some damage before he Hulks-Out again. Bruce thought his life couldn’t get any weirder after the accident, but Fate sure has a way of testing that hypothesis.
“Sorry,” he apologized for the brief flinch, “We lose some memories in the...transition. I briefly forgot where we are. You’re Hajreel-Ka, right? Doctor Bruce Banner. Nice to meet you.” He stuck out his hand for a shake and gave a small, tired smile.